Surgical



M. N. HOFSTETTER.

SURGICAL APPLIANCE.

APPLICATION FILED MAYIG. 1919.

1,318,872. Patented Oct. 14,1919.

l l l l l I 1 l l I INVENTOR ATT NEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORITZ N. HOFSTETTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

suaercan APPLIANCE.

To an whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, Monrrz N Hors rnn ran, a citizen of the United States, and 'esident of the city of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Surgical Appliance, of which the following is a specification. Y a I I This inventionrelates to surgical appliances, and particularly to an appliance which is to be utilized in connection with the care and dressing of the incision after an abdominal operation which is made in cident to a bladder operation, or an abdominal operation of a diiferent charaoten as a consequence of which the bladder becomes incised.

In such operations it is the practice to make a vertical incision at the middle of the lower part of the abdomen, and after the operation and sewing of the wound the urlne tends to continually fiow out through the incision until the wound becomes completely healed. This situation is usually cared for by meansof applying heavy gauze dressings which absorb the urine as it flows out of the incision." But as the urine flows continuously it rapidly impregnatesthe dressing, which therefore requires frequent changing,

and causesall the well known attendant disadvantages, inconveniences, and displeasures, due to such impregna-tions and constant redressing. Further change of dressing is likewise required when it is desired to treat the wound and when it is necessary to irrigate it.

1 The principal object of the invention is to provide means for remedying all "of the above-mentioned disadvantages,

Another object is to provide a simple, inexpensive and eflicient appliance which will take the place of the dressing required and will afford convenient means for maintainingthe patients body in dry state and provide access to the wound at alltimes for treatment and irrigation.

Other objects and advantageswill hereinafterappear. l

' In the accompanying dnawings,'

Figurel shows'a general front elevation, of'the surgical appliance. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

I as shown, and so contrived that when it is in proper operative position uponth'e patient 1t surrounds the incision, indicated by the dot and dash line 2-, on three sides, or

Patented Oct. 14, 1919. I Application filed May 16, 1919. Serial 110.297. 157. i

may be said to adjoin said incision at its sides and at the lower extremity thereof. A wall 3, is secured to or formspart of the plate 1, and is joined to the latter in such manner that its base 1, follows the inner contour of the plate 1, and is preferably joined to the plate a little away from its inner edge 5. The wall 3 is shaped pocketlike and bulges away from the plate 1 in rotund form so as to roof over the incision.

On the highest part and middle of the bulging .wall 3, is provided an opening 6, which extends clear through the upper part 7 thereof, whereat the'poeket is closed by the walls 8, said opening extending from its lower edge 9 which is" located alittle above the lowest point of the incision. Tubes 10,

preferably two in number extend from the lower side of Wall 3, and a suitable rubber pipe 11, connected to each of these tubes 7 is joined to a flattened 'roundglass bottle 12 or other suitable receptacle. At the outer side-edges of plate 1, are provided elongated. hooks 13, over which are slipped the elongated eyes 14, forming the extremities of-an elastic beltor strap 15, which maybe passed around the back of the patients body'to thereby secure the appliance inrequired operative position. .Openings 16 may be additionally provided adjacent the hooks 13, for use in tying bandages thereto in case it is desired to secure the appliance in operative state upon the patient in this manner. a 1 7 When utilizing this appliance, 1t is secured to thepatients' body in the proper operative position,"as albovedes'cribed, and

thereafter it may be continuously worn until the incision has entirely healed and the wound closed up. Any urine that may issue out of the incision will be naturally collected by the wall 3, and directed to the tubes 10, Wherefrom it will pass out through the pipes 11, into thebottles 12. The function of the plate 1 is to render the pocket 3 leak-proof and make certain that none of the matter will pass out around the base 4 of thewall and through the sides of the wall, but will be directed at all times to the tubes 10. The extension of the plate 1 beyond the wall 3 at 5, aids additionally in directing the issuing fluid toward the wall 3 and through the tubes 10.

It will be evident that the appliance may be provided with any number of tubes or outlets 10, to insure the urine passing out at all times, in whatever positions the patient may assume, whether lying, sitting, or standing, as the appliance is to be worn by the patient even after he becomes convalescent. Then the patient is in a lying position the upper portions 5 of wall 3 serve to retain the urine within the appliance and to direct it to flow out through the tubes 10. The bottles 12 may be placed beside the patient when he is in bed and may be carried among his clothing when he is in sitting or walking position. Should it be necessary to attend to the incision wound in any way, ready access may be had thereto through the opening 6, and should it be required to irrigate the incision, the same may be done by directinga water nozzle over the wound and flushing it out through the outlet tubes 10, so that the irrigating-fluid would pass out through the pipes 11, and be collected in the bottles 12, both of which operations may be carriedout efficiently and conveniently without requiring the removal of the appliance from the patient. The appliance may be made of metal, hard rubber, or any other suitable material.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portionsof the improvementsv may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim a l. A surgical appliance having the com bination of a plate configurated to conform to the part of the body whereat. incision is to be made and adaptedto bear against the body, said plate having an opening the edges of which adjoin the sides and lower extremity of the incision, a wall projecting from'said plate and extending alongrthe edges of said opening; being adapted to gather matter issuing from theincision, a plurality of outlet tubes extending from said wall tocarry oil said matter, said wall being convexed in pocket-like configuration and having an opening forv gaining access to the incision and flushing it, and means to secure the appliance to the patients body.

2. A surgical appliance having the combination of a plate configurated to conform to the part of the body whereat incision is to be made and adapted to bear against the body, said plate having an opening the edges of which adjoin the sides and lower extremity of the incision, a wall projecting'from said plate and extending along the edges of said opening; being adapted to gather matter issuing from the incision, means connected to said wall for carrying off said matter, said wall being convexed in pocketlike configuration and having an opening for gaining access to the incision and flushing it, and means to secure the appliance to the patients body.

3. A surgical appliance having the com bination of a plate configurated to conform to the part of the body whereat incision is to be made and adapted to -bear against the body, said plate having an opening the edges of which adjoin the sides and lower extremity of the incision, a wall projecting from said plate and extending along the edges of said opening being adapted to gather matter issuing from the incision, means connected to said wall for carrying off said matter, and means to secure the appliance to the patients body.

at. A surgical appliance having the combination of a plate configurated to conform to the part of the body whereat incision is to be made and adapted to bear against the body, said plate having an opening the edges of which adjoin the sides and lower extremity of the incision, a Wall projecting from said plate and extending along the edges of said opening being adapted to gather matter issuing from the incision, a plurality of outlet tubes extending from said wall to carry off said matter in the hori zontal position of the body as well as when it is in the upright position, and means to secure the appliance to the patients body.

5. A surgical appliance for abdominal and bladder operations having the combination of a plate configurated to conform to the lower part of the abdomen whereat incision is to be made and adapted to bear against the abdomen, said plate being shaped so as to adjoin the sides and lower extremity of the incision, a wall projecting from said plate and extending along the inner edge of the plate so as to adjoin the sides and lower extremity of the incision being adapted to gather matter issuing from the incision, means connected to said wall for carrying off said matter, and means to secure the appliance to the patients body.

6. A surgical appliance having theconibination of a plate configurated to conform to the part of the body whereat incision is to be made and adapted to bear against the body, said plate having an opening the edges if which adjoin the sides and lower extremity of the incision, a wall projecting from said plate and-extending along the edges of said opening being adapted to gather matter issuing from the incision, means connected to said wall for carryingoif said matter, means to secure the appliance to the patients body, and said plate 10 extending; beyond said Wall in a, direction toward the incision to direct the matter toward the wall.

Signed at the city of New York, in the county of New York, and State of New 15 York, this 14th day of May, A. D. 1919.

MORITZ N. HO'FSTETTER.

copies of this potent n17 be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

, Washington, D. 0." g 

